Estonia votes in election amid concerns over Russia

Estonians are voting in a parliamentary election with centre-right Prime Minister Taavi Roivas the favourite to form a new pro-Nato coalition and fend off an opposition party that wants better ties with neighbouring Russia.

Roivas’ (35) has stressed fears of Russian interference in Estonia after Moscow annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region last year. A free-marketeer, he is likely to be well placed to form a new coalition even if the Centre Party wins more votes.

Other big parties have refused to work with the Centre party which signed a cooperation deal with Putin’s United Russia Party in 2004. They have accused the leader, Edgar Savisaar, the mayor of Tallin of failing to condemn Putin’s actions in Ukraine.

Kremlin-critic Gary Kasparov announced his dismay that the Centre Party were leading going into the vote saying, “You may not believe it but a pro-Russian party is leading the polls in Estonia”.